Updating the world about jazz in the north east and updating the north east about jazz in the world

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Bebop Spoken There

Wayne Escoffery: "My philosophy is keeping one foot in the past and one foot in the future" - DownBeatMarch 2018.

Scott Bradlee: “When audiences hear it [Sweet Child O’ Mine] there’s a lightbulb moment when they recognise the song’s hook, even though it’s in a different context. They’re so used to hearing it one way that it causes some cognitive dissonance. If it’s a song they’ve disparaged in the past and they now find themselves liking it, that’s really interesting to me” – DownBeat March 2018.

"Jazz was the music of the people from the 20’s-40’s but the sound is so far removed from people today - I wanted to update the music in a way that today’s listener could understand. Jazz for the 21st century, just like an iphone app, everything needs to be updated.

I grew up listening to and loving jazz and popular music. Not gonna lie, my heart belongs to 90’s groups - but my love for them is just as strong as it is for Sarah Vaughan and Anita O’Day."

Hmmm!

The lady can sing, no doubt about it. Whether she has "updated" the music in the manner intended is open to debate and, personally, my preference is for those tracks where the updating is kept to a minimum.

Walter Smith 111 doesn't seem to be too involved in the move to the millennium, his solos are as solid as any from an earlier era and worth the price of the disc alone. On Lullaby of the Leaves there's some fine wailing trumpet behind the vocal but no one is credited on the sleeve. So, is it a trumpet or is it some electronic wizardry from the strangely named Drew ofthe Drew who is mainly responsible, I guess, for the updating effects Ms Desberg incorporates into her quest for advancement.

An interesting experiment by an accomplished and creative singer.

Lance.

Lauren Desberg - Twenty First Century Problems is available from April 28.Sample.

Submissions for review

Whilst we appreciate the many emails, texts, messages and other communications we receive requesting album/gig reviews on BSH, regrettably, we are unable to reply to them all other than those we are able to answer with a positive response.

Similarly, CDs received by post will only be considered if accompanied by sufficient background material.

Finally, bear in mind that this is a jazz-based site when submitting your album.

Lance

About this blog - contact details.

Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)